Liverpool's poor form continues with League Cup loss

ISLAM Slimani scored a brilliant goal as Leicester beat Liverpool 2-0 in the third round of the Carabao (League) Cup.

Substitute Shinji Okazaki opened the scoring in the 66th minute before Slimani fired in from outside the box to seal victory for the Foxes.

Liverpool, with Philippe Coutinho and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain starting, had dominated the first half, but failed to take any of their chances.

Jurgen Klopp's side, which made the semi-finals last year and final in 2016, has now failed to win any of its last four matches.

Leicester, meanwhile, is into the fourth round for the first time since 2015, having recovered from a dismal first-half performance to progress.

Liverpool was dominant in the opening 45 minutes, with Andy Robertson providing plenty of attacking threat down the left side and Coutinho pulling the strings in the middle.

Oxlade-Chamberlain saw an early chance blocked from a Robertson cross before Dominic Solanke shot narrowly wide and Coutinho had an effort saved.

Leicester offered nothing in response and Robertson continued to create chances, crossing to the back post for Solanke to turn over and then putting in a ball that Coutinho almost tapped in. Solanke also lobbed onto the roof of the net towards the end of the half.

But, having replaced Coutinho at half-time, Liverpool lost its control of the game in the second half.

Leicester was forced into a change after Leonardo Ulloa was left dazed by a header, and it was his replacement, Okazaki, who scored the opener, prodding home in the 66th minute from Vicente Iborra's header back.

Oxlade-Chamberlain fired over and Ben Woodburn went close before Danny Ings came on for his first Liverpool appearance since October 2016.

However, it was Leicester who scored the decisive second as Slimani fired in a brilliant strike from outside the box.

In other games Championship outfit Bristol City upset English Premier League side Stoke 2-0 at Ashton Gate, while Crystal Palace shook off its poor league form with a 1-0 success over Huddersfield Town.